As brand receives awards from ECOWAS
As Nigeria grapples to manage its mineral resources for national development, Metal Manufacturing Nigeria Limited, MMNL, has called for stricter export regulations within the country with respect to export Solid Minerals in raw form.

This came even as StarPlus battery, a brand of MMNL, receives three awards at the annual Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Manufacturing Excellence and ECOWAS Energy Awards recently in Lagos.

The Nigeria’s indigenous tubular battery company was awarded the 2023 “ECOWAS Inverter Battery Manufacturing Company of the Year, ECOWAS Inverter Battery Company of the Year, and ECOWAS Renewable Company of the Year.

Commenting on the awards, MMNL Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Amit Kumar Saraf said: “It was a rave of accolades as we won these awards.

“We are the only designed and made in Nigeria Tubular Battery brand. Starplus battery is also expanding its footprint to the ECOWAS nations making the citizens proud.”

He lamented the proliferation of solid minerals for export, stressing that the development is denying Nigeria huge capital. 

He said: “We are producing battery with 95 percent local Input, thereby creating thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities, contributing to the country’s economy and saving the valuable foreign exchange reserve.

“The rampant export of solid mineral like  lead ore and lead Ingots which is basic raw material are really affecting the nation’s economy. The federal government needs to restrict export of these solid minerals.”

Also, the company’s Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Vikash Kumar said: “MMNL has huge expansion plans with a vision to enable Nigeria become net exporter of batteries and 100 percent importer.

“With current level of operations, MMNL has already been able to reduce 20 percent to 30 percent of importation of tubular battery in Nigeria.

“Expansion plans of the company includes, backward integration to mine and process Lead Ore, manufacturing of plastic components of the battery, and chemicals used in the battery manufacturing.”

He noted that one of the key challenges include, lack of long-term funding for such projects and regulations.

He stressed that the company has history of overcoming all challenges.

“Therefore, we are confident of achieving our Vision,’ he added.

On his part, the Head, Sales and Marketing, Starplus, Mr. Ramesh Sharma said: “As a prominent player in the manufacturing sector and being a tubular battery manufacturing industry; the awards are a testament to our revolutionary work and our leadership, particularly in the areas of quality of product, energy needs, innovation, and investment in the development of infrastructure to create shared value for our stakeholders and communities. 

The ECOWAS’s annual award is aimed at celebrating outstanding individuals and organisations in the manufacturing industry that have demonstrated innovation excellence across their operations and have made remarkable contributions to the growth of the local economy.